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My sister gifted these curtains to me as we moved into our new home,during her visit to Australia in 2016. Up until today, it was safely packed away in my linen closet.

The past few weeks have been really sunny in Melbourne and the scorching heat got the better of us, with no aircon in our home. So here I was trying to find ways to block the sun, in an effort to reduce the house being heated up due to the sun exposure. Suddenly I remembered these curtains. Neither did I have rods to put them on or had the patient to airtask this to someone. I wanted this so desperately done so I just nailed it to the wall. That did the job for me now. The sun is out of our living room and bed room, helping us to cool down a lot better than before

I went on about my normal Sunday, going to church. As I was driving the word ‘blockout’ stuck to my mind. I started pondering on this word till I got to put the below together for us.

In our day- to-day life we all are constantly blocking something or someone in our life. Right from applying sunscreen to blocking the sun which is more of a physical block or to block that annoying person in your life which is more of a mental block , there is some sort of blocking activity going on. According to our reasoning minds, we do all this for our own good and sanity.

What if I say, there is something that is readily available, which is absolutely FREE and is invaluable which when applied leads to an abundant life, a life full of contentment, joy and peace irrespective of your circumstances or situation on hand. That’s the most valuable block one can use in their lives but yet sadly, the least used block of all times

THE WORD OF GOD

Sometimes or rather most of the time, just like the way I had my sisters gifted curtain on my shelves for almost 3 whole years , which if used effectively would have helped me with the scorching heat, we tend to shelf the Word of God safely in one corner of our lives, defeating the purpose of the very reason God gifted it to us – a user manual to live a joyful life.

It’s time to apply the Word of God on our hearts and minds, to use it as a block to shield us from the futile thoughts of the world. It’s time to dust that Bible safety stored away on our shelves. It’s time to block the negativity of the world with the peace of God and that can only be achieved when we apply the Word of God practically in our day-to-day lives

Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take

Joshua 1:8

Determine for yourself, this week to block those negative thoughts , those painful hurts and those baseless lies of this world that come to get you … with the truth, assurance and Hope that the Word of God offers

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is anindispensableweapon

Ephesians 6:13-16

Overcome the World with the Word

Declare this promise over yourself this week

Remember Intentional living goes hand in hand with intentional filtering, from things that drain the life out of you to things that give you life filled with Hope

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path

Psalm 119:105

Dear God,

Help me to use the Word of God as a filter to all that passes through my heart and mind this week. Help me to block that’s not helping my life and help me to apply Your ways from the Word in my life. I commit this week to You. Help me to have a productive week. I rely on Your strength and wisdom for me this week.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Stay Blessed in Him💞

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I gave my then 3 year old a clean notepad. She scribbled on it. Accordingly to her that was her drawing and I appreciate her trying to learn to write and draw. But as a parent I also needed to correct her scribble and teach her to write alphabets and numbers properly.

What my daughter sees as a perfect picture is actually a scribble for me.

So often I picture our initial life created by God as a clean notepad. When God gave us life and brought us into this world, we are a clean notepad. As life takes its own journey, we start to ‘scribble’ on our life notepads . Sometimes these ‘scribbles’ lead us through ‘reckless’ and ‘careless’ and ‘quick’ mistakes. We then continue to reason them out with our intellectual thinking and logical reasoning. This complicates the already existing ‘scribbles’

The message today is simple. Bring your ‘scribbles’ to God. When there is a notepad full of scribbles, it can’t be used in any way. But space can be made if the scribbles are wiped off with an eraser. God wants to be that eraser in your life today. He wants to give you a fresh new start where He can write your story. He doesn’t care how bad your scribbles are. Just bring them to Him and watch Him turn your ashes to beauty. God wants to help you as a loving Heavenly Father.

Take some time alone with God. Ask God to show you the scribbles in your life that you messed up with. God does not want you to step into the new year 2019 with your old scribbles. He wants to breathe new life in you and a fresh new start this coming year

Bring you scribbles to Him and watch Him wash you clean. He promises to make all things new for you this coming year , only if you bring them all to Him.

Revelation 21:5

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Dear God,

As I bring all my past and present ‘scribbles’ in my life to you, please help me make a fresh new start. Help me to live a life worthy of your calling .

In Jesus Name

Amen

Stay Blessed in Him💕

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In my part of the world, Christmas Day is almost over. With all the hustle and bustle of family get-togethers, gift unwrapping, celebration meal preparations, tradition of going to church on Christmas day that comes with it, I sat down to reflect on what this day really means to me and probably for all of us

For many this is a jolly season, a season of holidays, a season of festivities, a season of break, a season of quality family time.

For many Christians like me, it is a day of Hope, a day of rejoicing, a day of light when love become real in the form of Jesus and redeemed each and every one of us from the clutches of sin. The Word of God confirms that in John 3:16

6 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus lived a life of sacrifice and love. To a world drowning in its own desires and wants, Jesus is the life boat that can save us.

Matthew 11:15 Whoever has ears, let Him hear

Imagine the world celebrates Christmas with its own ‘Xmas’ changes to it. STILL, Christmas is ONE day when people come together in a family to a lunch / dinner table putting aside all their differences, it’s ONE day when they take a break from work to spend quality time with their extended families, it’s ONE day when we want to do something for the underprivileged, it’s ONE day when people extend their heart of generosity for kids that never receive a present, it’s ONE day when forgiveness is extended, it’s ONE day when few step into a church for the first time, it’s one day when separated parents for once agree on their child custody for spending time with the child.

From what I have noticed it’s ONE day when people choose love instead of hate irrespective of situations, forgiveness instead of revenge irrespective of circumstances and extend grace like never before all with a smile, as it’s CHRISTmas. I see the spirit of CHRIST in every home during this season in one form or the other

If ONE CHRISTmas day has so much impact in our personal lives, how much more will there be peace and joy on this earth, how much more will there be love and hope reinstated , if ONLY we chose to celebrate all our days like CHRISTmas

Today calls for restoration of our faith in love, in peace, in joy, in hope through belief in Jesus Christ. That is shown in our acts of love and kindness towards our own self and towards each other .

Today I want to introduce you to the way of love

1 Corinthians 13 The Message (MSG)

The Way of Love

13 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

2 If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.

A sacrificial love that Jesus willingly gave up His life for the you and me, just so we can live a life free of sin.

Today I encourage you to CHOOSE LOVE

Today I encourage you to LOVE like CHRIST

That will be the greatest gift of all, that we can give Jesus, for His birthday today.

7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut,

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

8-10 Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

If we want to love like Jesus, we need the help of the author of the perfector of our faith. We cannot and do not have to do it alone. You might be thinking your life is over , or you are in your deepest pit, you might feel like nothing is going to change…….BUT

I have a word of HOPE for you. When going through a fire, if we focus on how bad the fire is , we are not helping ourselves in any way to get out of the fire. We risk ourselves being burnt by that fire. Rather we focus on how to get out of the fire, that will potentially save our lives. Today I want to encourage you to trust a God Jesus, who not only wants to quench the fire that’s burning your soul but also wants to refresh your soul with his living water that gives life. All you need is to believe. This is the day that the Lord has made. Do not let the day pass without receiving His gift of eternal life for yourself.

Prayer

The Sinners Prayer ( by Dr. Ray Pritchard )

Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.

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God Worshippers and God Questers – this one is for you , from the heart of God

I attended an Awakening Australia session held today at the Marvel Stadium

WOW ! Witnessing the powerful manifestation of the Lord and His wonderous works, miraculous healing, tender uplifting of souls, breakthrough praise, I felt the Lord so close. I felt His warmth, His fire on me that compelled my heart to cry out ‘Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours. Help me to see the world through Your eyes ‘ and Bill Johnson’s prayer ‘ Lord, impart in my heart what you have for my life. I want to heal the sick, cast out demons, break strongholds, restore Hope and love people the way you loved them. Help me to see the world through your eyes. I am in 100% Lord and the Lord reminded me ‘ well, you said you were available too a week back ‘.. I knew deep in my heart something BIG that’s going to cost me is coming my way but I asked the Lord for grace to stand my ground and be obedient

During worship, I had a vision that kept coming back to me and I had to get it out. Hence my post. I used to feel hesitant before to speak out what the Lord laid on my heart but now I come with the authority that He has given me, and without any shame or intimidation I believe this is my calling and stepping out fully into what He has called me to do. To share what He lays on my heart for people to know and work on. No more fear or doubt devil

Here is my vision. I saw a HUGE ship approaching a HUGE ice berg. As we were worshipping and as the praise raised from the hearts of the people, the ship moved forward and started chipping the ice berg , slowly and steadily. I could feel the intensity as the praise rose so did the work of the HUGE ship chipping away the massive ice berg. Australia For Jesus !! The captain of the ship Jesus has set into action , commissioning His people to rescue the lost and restore Hope to the fallen. The ice berg could be anything in your life, depression, brokenness, sickness, anxiety, relational issues, abuse, trauma, you name it BUT take heart Jesus the captain of the ship has built His ship with your throne of praise and prayer, which is also your weapon to battle those fears that are raging in your heart and trying to tear you down. Keep your staff held high, just like Moses did. In your praise lies your breakthrough.

Psalm 45:2

You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever

What happened tonight ?? David summarised it long time back. God-Worshippers co-partnering with God and chipping away what steals His people’s joy and chipping away whatever tries to tag them for things of the world in the form of distraction and temptation for futile things. It’s a kingdom partnership deal.

Psalm 22

Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers;

give glory, you sons of Jacob;

adore him, you daughters of Israel.

He has never let you down,

never looked the other way

when you were being kicked around.

He has never wandered off to do his own thing;

he has been right there, listening.

25-26

Here in this great gathering for worship

I have discovered this praise-life.

And I’ll do what I promised right here

in front of the God-worshipers.

Down-and-outers sit at God’s table

and eat their fill.

Everyone on the hunt for God

is here, praising him.

“Live it up, from head to toe.

Don’t ever quit!”

27-28

From the four corners of the earth

people are coming to their senses,

are running back to God.

Long-lost families

are falling on their faces before him.

God has taken charge;

from now on he has the last word.

29

All the power-mongers are before him

—worshiping!

All the poor and powerless, too

—worshiping!

Along with those who never got it together

—worshiping!

30-31

Our children and their children

will get in on this

As the word is passed along

from parent to child.

Babies not yet conceived

will hear the good news—

that God does what he says.

So here is your declaration for the battle ahead and the strength for the victory that has already been achieved through Jesus. Discover your very own praise life

I believe that God has marked Australia as His own. The challenge now is to keep up the pursuit of God and a clean heart to inherit all that He has for us. And it starts with each individual willingly obeying the call of God on their lives, without comparison to one another, but with authority, identity and full acceptance of WHOSE they belong. We are all parts of ONE body and need to work together without jealousy or competition as we ALL work towards one common goal, save souls from perishing

24

1-2 God claims Earth and everything in it,

God claims World and all who live on it.

He built it on Ocean foundations,

laid it out on River girders.

3-4

Who can climb Mount God?

Who can scale the holy north-face?

Only the clean-handed,

only the pure-hearted;

Men who won’t cheat,

women who won’t seduce.

5-6

God is at their side;

with God’s help they make it.

This, Jacob, is what happens

to God-seekers, God-questers.

My prayer for you tonight is

Psalm 27

14

I’m sure now I’ll (you will ) see God’s goodness

in the exuberant earth.

Stay with God!

Take heart. Don’t quit.

I’ll say it again:

Stay with God.

Stay blessed

In Jesus Name

Amen

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A call for obedience ! Been praying about something and wonder why nothing is happening ? Probably you are missing that gentle whisper of God to take a leap of faith, thinking the beginning is small or insignificant. Here’s a reminder for you that God is with you, every step of the way. YOU ARE NOT ALONE . He wants you to take a leap of faith, trusting Him with your small beginnings.

Isaiah 41:10

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

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A declaration for your life when everything seems STILL and you wonder where your future is heading !! I seem to reflect on this Psalm countless times whenever fear tries to grip my heart and EVERY single time I rise with Hope from God that He is a good shepherd and He will NEVER let me down. His goodness and mercy will follow me and my family all the days of my life.

Declare this Psalm over your life. When songs of praise and declarations begin, the enemy doesn’t have a foothold on any circumstance or stronghold on any burden that is weighing your heart down. The victory is already His.

1 The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd.

I always have more than enough

2 He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love

His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss

3 That’s where he restores and revives my life.

He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness

so that I can bring honor to his name

4 Lord, even when your path takes me through

the valley of deepest darkness,

fear will never conquer me, for you already have!

You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way.

Your authority is my strength and my peace.

The comfort of your love takes away my fear.

I’ll never be lonely, for you are near

5 You become my delicious feast

even when my enemies dare to fight.

You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit

You give me all I can drink of you until my heart overflows

6 So why would I fear the future?

For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life.

Then afterward, when my life is through,

I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!

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It was a busy Tuesday morning in our household. As usual I got ready for work and Hannah for her daycare. As we hurried to the car, Hannah sat in her car seat and I started to buckle her up to ensure she is safe during the drive

A typical near 5 year old, my daughter was wriggling and complaining that the seat belt was too tight while I was STILL trying to buckle her. She was being so impatient telling me that I was hurting her while all I was trying to do was to buckle her up to ensure her safety. Hannah said ‘Stop it Momma, you are hurting me ‘.

By this time, I stopped doing what I was doing and looked into her eyes and said ‘ Hannah, Mommy is not finished yet . If you just stay still and not move, I can quickly do what I am supposed to do, to buckle you to keep you safe while we drive’ . With that, Hannah stopped moving and within minutes ‘click’ , she was all buckled up and we were set for our drive

The Holy Spirit said something to me and I could not stop smiling at myself the whole drive. He said ‘Sindu, can you see yourself in Hannah’s actions today ?’

The Word of God says that He has the best plans in store for us and all His plans are to prosper us and not harm us.

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

And not only He has the plans for us , He is also faithful to complete what He started for our lives . Sometimes a stern voice like I said to my child, is what He does to grab our attention to what He is trying to tell us

He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it

Philippians 1:6

As our Heavenly Father, His concern for us is our safety as we navigate through the abundant life He has given us. Out of His unconditional love for us , throughout the journey, He corrects, He disciplines, He guides and He leads the way for His children. As mere humans, our concern is always about our comfort. The moment we are taken off our comfort zone, even if it is for a short period of time, naturally then comes the whinging, complaining, ‘Why God Why?’ ‘Why Me?’ questions and ultimately doubt and uncertainty in the presence and very existence of God

Today God wants to tell you this. ‘My dear child, will you LET GO off your control over your life and LET ME BE God over your life ? I am not finished with you yet. So don’t draw your judgement line yet based on your circumstances or feelings , as the best is yet to come. Trust me to take you through this , Believe me for your healing , Hold onto me for your provision and see if I will not make a way for you in your wilderness. I parted the Red Sea for my children, I am the same yesterday and today and my love for you STILL stands the same. You are the apple of my eye and I have engraved you on the palm of my Hand. I knew you from your mothers womb and you are so very precious to me. Take me into your life once again and you will never have to be alone or do this alone . Come to me my precious one, I am not finished with you yet so don’t bring to an end the dreams and desires I have laid on your heart ‘

31 So, what does all this mean? If God has determined to stand with us, tell me, who then could ever stand against us?

32 For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son. And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all,[a] he certainly won’t withhold from us anything else he has to give…

35 Who could ever separate us from the endless love of God’s Anointed One? Absolutely no one! For nothing in the universe has the power to diminish his love toward us. Troubles, pressures, and problems are unable to come between us and heaven’s love. What about persecutions, deprivations,dangers, and death threats? No, for they are all impotent to hinder omnipotent love…

37 Yet even in the midst of all these things, we triumph over them all, for God has made us to be more than conquerors, and his demonstrated love is our glorious victory over everything!

Romans 8

God wants to remind you of His promise ‘ Be still and Know that I am your God’. There might be giant like circumstances roaring around you or situations trying to scare you , God wants to tell you today that you are more than a conqueror and you have victory in Jesus already. Believe it, Claim it and Live it !

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for speaking to me. I lay my burdens and my hearts longings at your feet. I let go off my life control and surrender my life to you. I ask you to take control. Lord, I believe there is nothing impossible with you and I ask for your intervention in my life situation right now and I speak your power over my life. I speak your life over my life. Thank you for your Word

In Jesus Name

Amen

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This is a beautiful note that was sent to me by my amazing friend at my previous workplace. It literally sets the tone for my day reminding me of God’s love for me and that nothing, absolutely nothing that’s happening in my life is far from the reach of His hands. I then start my day with a smile, determined to be the very best for the day.

Today marks exactly 1 year since I quit my most loved, very secure job of 7 years in a health sector , to embark on an uncertain journey determined to improve work-life balance just so I can spend some quality time with my daughter. Long commute to the city really didn’t contribute to the work life balance I was looking for. I wanted a change but was afraid to step out of the comfort zone. What if I don’t end up getting a job ? Fear gripped my heart and became an obstacle to put my trust in God to action

Funny enough, most of my conversations and tantrums with God happens in the rest room. So here I am arguing why He should give me the job I so badly want in my life and listing my reasons on why God should consider my request . ‘I know you love me but please love me the way I want you to love me ‘ – trying to convince God at my best

I heard a gentle voice when I stopped my ranting ‘ Ok, I will bless you but what action are you taking for your prayers to get answered ?’ God reminded me that without faith it’s impossible to please a God

Faith without action is dead

James 2:17

God’s Word stirred my faith and set it into action. I started my uncertain journey with a prayer and took a massive leap of faith. I quit my job without another job on hand. As per the world’s standards it’s regarded foolishness, but for me it was listening to what God told me to do mattered the most.

That was a real faith check for me in my life. Am I trusting God enough to let go of my ONLY source of income , just because He said so ? I wouldn’t say I was full of faith like Abraham and just DID it, but I could honestly say that it was a journey for me, a journey of preparing my heart to listen to His Word and a journey of reminding myself that God would never fail when things didn’t go well after I quit the job. It was definitely not a bed of roses but the transition journey and the lessons learnt along the way was well worth it, as I experienced God as my sole provider.

When I look back at the last year, it certainly had its own awesome ups and terrible lows, but today my heart is filled with gratitude for the journey I boldly stepped into trusting only God .. I believe that God not only blessed me with a job I prayed for but also sent some beautiful friends along the way as a bonus.

So today I want to pass on this beautiful note that inspired me to be my best everyday and to keep my SMILE ON irrespective of the circumstance as it’s a beautiful reminder that GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS, not my time or your time, but in HIS time and it will be the perfect timing for your life !

He has made everything beautiful in His time

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Take heart ❤️ ! Whatever stage your prayer is from being answered, today is a gentle reminder that God has not forgotten you. Every drop of your tear is bottled and kept track of by Him. In His time He will repay back all that the locusts have eaten . God is never too early nor never too late. His timing is just perfect.

Dear God,

I pray today that as I wait on the answers to my prayers, help me to keep walking unwavered in my faith , be strong and confident trusting in You. I pray against doubt and fear in the name of Jesus . I intentionally choose trust over doubt, faith over insecurity and strength over weakness as Your word says that I am more than a conqueror in You and He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world

In Jesus Name I ask and Pray

Amen

Stay Blessed in Him💞

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Pentecost Sunday, this year 2018 falls on May 20th. I was led to share this devotion from my theology college assessment, which I wrote almost 7 years back. The document might be outdated but the TRUTH in it stands still

THE BOOK OF ACTS

Acts is a unique New Testament books that provides us with the historical record of the early church.It is also a theological book that contains lessons and living examples of the work of the Holy Spirit, church relationships and organisation, the implications of grace and the laws of love

Let’s read Acts chapter 2 , verses 1 – 13

2 1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

5-11 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;Even Cretans and Arabs!

“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”

12 Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”

13 Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.”

Q: What is the day of Pentecost and why were ‘they ‘ (Acts 2:1) assembled in one place?